How much of someone's wages can be garnished in Ontario?

Up to 20% of wages. The Wages Act exempts 80% of a person's wages from garnishment, so the garnishee pays at most 20% (Wages Act s. 7(2); rule 20.08). The garnishee pays the garnished amount into court, and the court pays it out to you [VERIFY]. The notice stays in force for 6 years, so payments continue until the debt, interest, and costs are paid (rule 20.08).

Can I garnish a bank account in Ontario Small Claims Court?

Yes. Name the financial institution as the garnishee on the Form 20P affidavit, one garnishee per notice (rule 20.08). Serve the notice at the branch where the account is held (rule 20.08(6.2)). Then serve the debtor within 5 days (rule 20.08(6.1)). The bank pays what the account holds, up to the amount owing, into court [VERIFY]. A joint account also gets a Notice to Co-owner of Debt (Form 20G) (rule 20.08).

How long does a garnishment last?

6 years from the date the notice is issued (rule 20.08). Renew it before that anniversary with a Notice of Renewal of Garnishment (Form 20E.1) (rule 20.08). Garnishment ends earlier when the debt, interest, and costs are paid (rule 20.08). The creditor then serves a Notice of Termination of Garnishment (Form 20R) (rule 20.08). Each notice covers one garnishee, so a new job or a new bank needs a new notice (rule 20.08).

What if I do not know where the debtor works?

You need the name and address of the garnishee, because each notice names one (rule 20.08). If you do not know it, serve a Notice of Examination (Form 20H) first: the debtor must answer questions about income and assets under oath (rule 20.10). An individual debtor also completes a Financial Information Form (Form 20I) and serves it on you before the examination (rule 20.10(4.1)). Use the answers to name the garnishee.

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Ontario Small Claims Court · After judgment · rule 20.08

Form 20E: Notice of Garnishment

Form 20E is the Notice of Garnishment issued by the clerk of the Ontario Small Claims Court (rule 20.08). It is served on a person who owes the debtor money, such as an employer or a bank, called the garnishee (rule 20.08). Each notice names one debtor and one garnishee (rule 20.08). It stays in force for 6 years and can be renewed with Form 20E.1 (rule 20.08).

Open the Collect screen The official PDF (ontariocourtforms.on.ca)

When you use it

• Use it against an employer: the Wages Act lets you garnish up to 20% of wages (Wages Act s. 7(2)).
• Use it against a bank: serve the financial institution at the branch where the account is held (rule 20.08(6.2)).
• Use it against any other person who owes the debtor money, the garnishee (rule 20.08).
• Serve the debtor with the notice within 5 days after you serve the garnishee (rule 20.08(6.1)).
• Renew it before its 6th anniversary with a Notice of Renewal of Garnishment (Form 20E.1) (rule 20.08).

The facts

Rule: rule 20.08, O. Reg. 258/98
Court fee: $144 to issue or renew (O. Reg. 332/16, as stored 2026-01-06)
Official revision: Jan 2021
Who files it: After judgment

How this site fills it

The Collect screen fills Form 20E and the Form 20P affidavit from the case record, with one debtor and one garnishee per notice (rule 20.08). It lists the balance owing on the date of the affidavit.

Open the Collect screen

How to complete and file Form 20E

01
Identify the garnishee: the employer, the bank branch, or another person who owes the debtor money (rule 20.08).
02
Complete the Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P) with one debtor and one garnishee (rule 20.08).
03
File it in the court where the debtor lives or carries on business, and pay the fee (rule 20.08; O. Reg. 332/16).
04
Get the issued Notice of Garnishment from the clerk (rule 20.08).
05
Serve the garnishee, at the branch where the account is held for a bank (rule 20.08(6.2)).
06
Serve the debtor within 5 days after you serve the garnishee (rule 20.08(6.1)).
07
Check the court file for the Garnishee's Statement (Form 20F) and for payments (rule 20.08) [VERIFY].
08
When the debt is paid, serve a Notice of Termination of Garnishment (Form 20R) (rule 20.08).

Questions people ask about Form 20E

How much of someone's wages can be garnished in Ontario?: Up to 20% of wages. The Wages Act exempts 80% of a person's wages from garnishment, so the garnishee pays at most 20% (Wages Act s. 7(2); rule 20.08). The garnishee pays the garnished amount into court, and the court pays it out to you [VERIFY]. The notice stays in force for 6 years, so payments continue until the debt, interest, and costs are paid (rule 20.08).
Can I garnish a bank account in Ontario Small Claims Court?: Yes. Name the financial institution as the garnishee on the Form 20P affidavit, one garnishee per notice (rule 20.08). Serve the notice at the branch where the account is held (rule 20.08(6.2)). Then serve the debtor within 5 days (rule 20.08(6.1)). The bank pays what the account holds, up to the amount owing, into court [VERIFY]. A joint account also gets a Notice to Co-owner of Debt (Form 20G) (rule 20.08).
How long does a garnishment last?: 6 years from the date the notice is issued (rule 20.08). Renew it before that anniversary with a Notice of Renewal of Garnishment (Form 20E.1) (rule 20.08). Garnishment ends earlier when the debt, interest, and costs are paid (rule 20.08). The creditor then serves a Notice of Termination of Garnishment (Form 20R) (rule 20.08). Each notice covers one garnishee, so a new job or a new bank needs a new notice (rule 20.08).
What if I do not know where the debtor works?: You need the name and address of the garnishee, because each notice names one (rule 20.08). If you do not know it, serve a Notice of Examination (Form 20H) first: the debtor must answer questions about income and assets under oath (rule 20.10). An individual debtor also completes a Financial Information Form (Form 20I) and serves it on you before the examination (rule 20.10(4.1)). Use the answers to name the garnishee.

Legal information, not legal advice. Rules are from the Rules of the Small Claims Court, O. Reg. 258/98; fees from O. Reg. 332/16 as stored 2026-01-06. Items marked [VERIFY] have not been checked against the current consolidation. Legal services provided by Mithril Law — Jonathan Kleiman, licensed Ontario lawyer.

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